sweetsci wrote: ↑19 Feb 2018, 19:24
Thoughts on a couple of points in the thread...
If they were to make a movie on Leon's life, I'd think it would have to conclude in February 1978. That'd be the only way to get the happy ending Hollywood and moviegoers like.
As far as other rushed amateur stars, Tyrell Biggs comes to mind. So does Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya, but they had the goods.
Michael Spinks being broke - if true, that's a shame. He always came off as a gentleman and pretty much did everything right in his career. I have a lot of respect for him.
I get your point, but if it ended in February '78, it would be boring.
Leon's 'life' really began after he beat Ali & it's the period from February to September '78 which the film would have to mainly focus on.
It's not a true life story unless Spinks' downfall is also spotlighted.
An illuminating and cautionary tale of excess and fame without the necessary maturity to deal with it.
elmersalsa wrote: ↑19 Feb 2018, 17:40
Why they rushed Leon for a title fight that quick, instead of develop him into a great fighter? Maybe his management team knew that he wasn't that serious into boxing. That's the ONLY REASON I see why he got that title shot so soon. As I said earlier, it was a great business decision move.
A lot of guys that were great amateur boxers we're pushed too quickly to the alligators. Pete Radamecher, Davey Moore and David Reid are some that comes to my mind. Any others?
Bobby Czyz, Howard Davis jr, and possibly Jackie Beard.
He didn't have a lot of physical strength. His chin wasn't very strong and neither was his punch.
But he gave 2 very respected champions, Watt and Rosario, a pair of difficult 15 rounders.
If they had moved Davis slower--- and he had been a pro for 3 years before he received a title shot against Watt---I don't think it would have made much difference.
Kalan wrote: ↑22 Feb 2018, 01:37
Ali wasn't rushed any more than Anthony Joshua was rushed... They both went for the title at the perfect time.
It was the ideal time for Ali to challenge Sonny -- because the aging Liston fought only 3 shortened rounds in the previous 3 years and was in poor physical condition... Going into hard training after months of idleness is not good... It led to his torn left shoulder and biceps injuries... It was an even fight on the scorecards but had to be halted due to the injured arm...
The rematch was the biggest fiasco in Fistic History with Ali refusing to go to a neutral corner and Liston getting no count from the referee... Liston, Ali, and referee Walcott all thought the fight was still on when Liston got up... They continued fighting until Nat Fleischer (not an official) told Walcott to stop it and award it to Ali.
By that time Ali was 23 so the timing worked out perfectly. Couldn't be better.
It wasn't that way with Leon Spinks... He beat an ATG Heavyweight Champion in a tremendous upset, but that was the only significant win he ever achieved... Leon had major flaws to dispose of before being tossed in with top Heavyweights... It was the same for Marvis Frazier... No way you put a kid with 10 fights against a 44-0 ATG unless his name is Lomachenko or Rigondeaux - the 2 greatest amateurs in the history of Boxing... Marvis needed 20 fights... By the time he got them he was mentally and emotionally scarred by the 2 very high profile mismatches... He quit.
I think you missed my last line where I pointed out that rushing things seemed to work out well for Ali.
SenorPipino wrote: ↑22 Feb 2018, 16:28
I thought Davis did well.
He didn't have a lot of physical strength. His chin wasn't very strong and neither was his punch.
But he gave 2 very respected champions, Watt and Rosario, a pair of difficult 15 rounders.
If they had moved Davis slower--- and he had been a pro for 3 years before he received a title shot against Watt---I don't think it would have made much difference.
No doubt Davis did well, but with a different trainer and mentality, maybe he could have pulled out a world championship. It's bad when someone of his talent has to arguably lose to Vilomar Fernandez, and then lose to Jim Watt. In all honesty, that Watt loss hurt his career. He also mentioned being 180 pounds a couple of weeks before the Rosario fight. Not good.
